No Strings Attached

lan felt a sudden tightness in his chest as he heard those words. "What's going on?"

The servant continued through her sobs, "Ms. Leonora was here earlier. I don't know what she said to Mr. Reed, but by the time I got back to the room, he was foaming at the mouth, pale as a ghost. It looked like he was gone."

lan immediately hung up and grabbed Clara's hand. His icy grip held Clara's hand firmly. A dark premonition suddenly rose in his heart.

When he pulled Clara away, she knew something was wrong and immediately asked, "What's happened? Is it Grandpa Reed? Is he not well?"

lan looked at her with a complex expression. "Clara, no matter what happens, you have to trust me, okay?"

Clara felt her eyes welling up. "What's going on?"

"Grandpa Reed's in trouble. We need to get back now."

Clara toward the car, he was already dialing emergency services. By the time they got home, the paramedics had

doctor shook his head in resignation. "Mr. Hayes, we did everything we could. Reed had a stroke. He's got

those words, Clara staggered backward, tears streaming down her cheeks. "That's impossible. Grandpa Reed was just fine a while ago. How could he suddenly have a

a madwoman, only to see him lying in his bed, pale as a sheet, still dressed in his

that the man lying on the bed was Grandpa Reed. Just before they had left, he had told her

gently traced Grandpa Reed's wrinkled cheek. The cold touch made her realize in an

burying her face on Grandpa Reed's

thought of the instigator of this tragedy, his

of presenting the wedding gifts. "lan, don't worry.

took lan a few seconds before he could whisper, "Dad,

come with us for the wedding gifts presentation? He couldn't have been overwhelmed by city life,

hard on his lip. "Dad, I mean, he's passed away. Leonora was here earlier. I don't know what she said to him, but after she left, he had a stroke and died. You need to get Leonora under control, no